Kids Movies of the 1980s

Ahh, the Eighties! Since I was born in 1980, I was a child of the 80s, but didn’t really come into my own until the 90s. However, Hurricane Hugo, Gorbachev, Reagan, and Hussein are names I know very well from my early years.

With the 80s came a massive boom in Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy films including the great kids’ movies of the 1980’s!

The 80s brought us punk rock, but more than that it brought us Nintendo! Great games such as Super Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda will forever be known as the FIRST great video games. The 80s also began the interconnected web and personal computers.

Kids Movies of the 1980s

With the 80s came a massive boom in Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy films… plus, the great kids’ movies of the 1980s!

1980 – Popeye: The sailor with big forearms rows to Sweethaven and steals skinny Olive Oyl from large Bluto.

1981 – Clash of the Titans: An all-star cast and eye-filling thrills await as special effects legend Ray Harryhausen unleashes creatures both wondrous and menacing in the 1981 version of Clash of the Titans.

1981 – The Fox and the Hound: Disney’s classic tale about an unlikely friendship gets a new transfer for a special 25th Anniversary Edition. When a feisty little fox named Tod is adopted into a farm family, he quickly becomes friends with a fun and adorable hound puppy named Copper. Life is full of hilarious adventures until Copper is expected to take on his role as a hunting dog — and the object of his search is his best friend! Bonus features include an all-new Forest Friendship Game, a DVD Storybook, a Sing-Along Song, and more.

1982 – Annie: Annie is the story of a plucky, red-haired girl who dreams of life outside her dreary orphanage. One day, Annie (Aileen Quinn) is chosen to stay for one week with the famous billionaire “Daddy” Warbucks (Albert Finney). One week turns into many and the only person standing in the way of Annie’s fun is Miss Hannigan, the gin-soaked ruler of the orphanage (played to hilarious perfection by Carol Burnett). Will Miss Hannigan’s zany attempts to kidnap the irrepressible Annie succeed? Enjoy all the unforgettable songs, including “It’s A Hard Knock Life” and “Tomorrow.”

1982 – E.T.: Relive the adventure and magic in one of the most beloved motion pictures of all-time,E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, from Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg. Captivating audiences of all ages, this timeless story follows the unforgettable journey of a lost alien and the 10-year-old boy he befriends. Join Elliot (Henry Thomas), Gertie (Drew Barrymore) and Michael (Robert MacNaughton) as they come together to help E.T. find his way back home. Now digitally remastered with enhanced picture and sound for its 30th Anniversary,E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is “one of the great American films” (Leonard Maltin) that forever belongs in the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere.

1983 – A Christmas Story: In this holiday classic, Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the ’40’s, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift.

1984 – The Karate Kid: There is more to karate than fighting. This is the lesson that Daniel (Macchio), a San Fernando Valley teenager, is about to learn from a most unexpected teacher: Mr.Miyagi (Morita), an elderly handyman who also happens to be a master of the martial arts. So when he rescues Daniel from the Cobra Kai, a vicious gang of karate school bullies, Miyagi instills in his young friend the importance of honor and confidence as well as skills in self-defense, vital lessons that will be called into play when a hopelessly outclassed Daniel faces Johnny, the sadistic leader of the Cobra Kai, in a no-holds-barred karate tournament for the championship of the Valley.

1984 – The Muppets Take Manhattan: Broadway bound, the Muppets take Manhattan by storm in this magical musical about breaking into show business! Fresh out of college, Kermit, Fozzie and the entire cast of Kermit’s musical “Manhattan Melodies” head for the Big Apple with plans to turn their small play into a big hit! All they need now is someone to produce their show! But when no one in town will even meet with them, it’s up to Kermit to believe hard enough for all of his friends that the show WILL go on! Family entertainment has never been more fun than this comedy marking Frank Oz’s solo directorial debut

1985 – The Goonies: The ’80s movie classic, The Goonies, is the story of Mikey Walsh and Brandon Walsh, brothers whose family is preparing to move because developers want to build a golf course in the place of their neighborhood — unless enough money is raised to stop the construction of the golf course, and that’s quite doubtful. But when Mikey stumbles upon a treasure map of the famed One-Eyed Willy’s hidden fortune, Mikey, Brandon, and their friends Lawrence ‘Chunk’ Cohen, Clark ‘Mouth’ Devereaux, Andrea ‘Andy’ Carmichael, Stefanie ‘Stef’ Steinbrenner, and Richard ‘Data’ Wang, calling themselves The Goonies, set out on a quest to find the treasure in hopes of saving their neighborhood. The treasure is in a cavern, but the entrance to the cavern is under the house of evil thief Mama Fratelli and her sons Jake Fratelli, Francis Fratelli, and the severely disfigured Lotney Sloth Fratelli. This ’80s family favorite was written by Stephen Spielberg and stars Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen and Corey Feldman.

1986 – The Adventures of Milo and Otis: A curious kitten named Milo and his inseparable friend, a pug-nosed puppy named Otis, tumble through one exciting escapade after another in The Adventures of Milo and Otis, a heartwarming live action film. Milo and Otis start life together on a farm and spend their days exploring the barnyard and the surrounding countryside. One day, the little feline is swept down a rushing river and Otis takes off in pursuit to rescue his friend, thus beginning a series of adventures. The Adventures of Milo and Otis, which took four years to complete, is a film that will delight both the young and young at heart.

1986 – The Transformers: The Movie: The earth is a battleground. An age-old struggle for control of the universe is taking place. Ordinary looking planes, cars and vehicles suddenly transform into mighty robots that wage war with the advanced armoury of super technology. An erupting volcano revives the dormant cargo of a space ship that crashed four million years ago. Two types of transformers emerge: the power-hungry, evil Decepticons and the Autobots who, with help from human allies, must use courage and ingenuity to prevent the Decepticons from taking over! The battle has just begun…

1987 – The Brave Little Toaster: THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER is the award-winning animated tale of friendship, loyalty, and courage that has become a huge favorite with young and old alike! Five electrical appliances suddenly feel dumped when their young master mysteriously disappears! The dejected toaster rounds up the vacuum cleaner, electric blanket, and bedside lamp and radio, and together, they set off for the big city in search of their beloved owner! Featuring the voices of “Saturday Night Live’s” Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz, and catchy original songs — you’re on the high road to a humorous and heartwarming adventure you’ll never forget.

1987 – The Princess Bride: A Wondrous Tale Of Wit And Whimsey, The Princess Bride Willtransport You To A Magical Land Where Fantasy Reigns Supreme,And Kings And Queens Of All Ages Will Want To Return Again Andagain.

1988 – The Land Before Time: This dazzling Anniversary Edition of The Land Before Time, presented by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, introduces us to Littlefoot, Cera, Spike, Ducky and Petrie, and follows them on their first journey together – an exciting quest to find the lush, legendary Great Valley. Along the way, the prehistoric pals overcome many challenges and learn the value of teamwork and friendship. This delightful classic is the adventure that started it all, and it continues to capture the hearts of viewers young and old.

1989 – All Dogs Go to Heaven: Set in 1939 New Orleans, this colorful, song-filled story centers on Charles B. Barkin, a roguish German Shepherd with the charm of a con man and the heart of a marshmallow. Out for revenge against his double-crossing former partner, a cigar-chomping pit bull known as Carface, Charlie finds himself guardian to a lonely little orphan named Anne-Marie. Her astounding ability to talk to animals leads this unlikely pair on an adventure packed with thrills, laughs, tears and true love.

1989 – Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Get set for the adventure of a lifetime in the #1 comedy hit of the year, HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS! Rick Moranis stars as a preoccupied inventor who just can’t seem to get his electro-magnetic shrinking machine to work. Then, when he accidentally shrinks his kids down to one-quarter-inch tall and tosses them out in the trash, the real adventure begins! Now the kids face incredible dangers as they try to make their way home through the jungle of their own backyard! Hurricane sprinklers! Dive-bombing bees! A runaway lawn mower and much, much more! Directed by Academy Award(R)-winner Joe Johnston (Visual Effects, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, 1981), this record-breaking smash is full of amazing special effects, hilarious comedy, wild chases, and nonstop surprises!

1989 – The Little Mermaid: THE LITTLE MERMAID, one of the most celebrated animated films of all time, is now spectacularly transformed for the first time on Blu-ray, with a state-of-the-art digitally restored picture and brilliant high-definition sound! Venture under the sea where Ariel, a free-spirited mermaid princess, longs to be part of the human world. After bravely striking a bargain with Ursula, a sneaky sea witch, Ariel embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. With Flounder and Sebastian at her side, Ariel will need all of her courage and determination to make things right in both her worlds.

About Kelli Miller

My husband (Ricky) of 20 years, our three wild and wonderfully different boys, five totally spoiled little dogs, a plethora of wild cats, and I live at Miller Manor! It is a 100 year old Colonial Style Farmhouse that is surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland, in a small town on the coast of Southern Alabama.